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Injunction Issued Against Rio

Jon Iverson Oct 18, 1998 First Published: Oct 18, 1998

In a story">http://www.stereophile.com/news/10283/">story last week, we covered the efforts of the Recording">http://www.riaa.com">Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) to prevent portable MP3 players from entering the market without copy-protection measures in place. On August 16, a federal court entered a temporary restraining order (TRO) to enjoin the distribution and sale of Diamond">http://www.diamondmm.com/">Diamond Multimedia's Rio PMP300 portable MP3 recording device.

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A Primer on the Popular Lowther Horn Loudspeaker

Bert Doppenberg Oct 18, 1998 First Published: Oct 18, 1998

Editor's Note: Lowther horn speakers and their "clubs" have been important to do-it-yourself hi-fi hobbyists in Europe for decades. A common question from readers in other parts of the world is "What are Lowther speakers, and where can I hear them?" We asked Mr. Doppenberg, of the Lowther Club of Holland, to give us a quick tour of the Lowther story. For more extensive information, check the links at the end of this piece.

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Paradigm Claims Sonic Frontiers Deal Will Help Entire Industry

Barry Willis Oct 17, 1998 First Published: Oct 17, 1998

Paradigm's acquisition of Sonic Frontiers, Inc. is only the first step in salvaging the highly regarded brand, according to Bill VanderMarel, Paradigm's Director of Sales and Marketing. The next step will involve infusions of serious amounts of cash to expand the present network of dealers and to develop new products under the new Sonic Frontiers International banner---an amount VanderMarel expects will run as high as two or three times the purchase price of the temporarily defunct Ontario maker of high-end audio electronics. "Paradigm recognizes the necessity of such a sizable investment over the next 12 months to make a serious effort at revitalizing the name," he said.

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It's Party Time at Christopher Hansen!

John Atkinson Oct 12, 1998 First Published: Oct 12, 1998

When I compiled the votes HI-FI '98 attendees had cast for "Best">http://www.stereophile.com/news/10239/">Best Sound at the Show," the ultimate winner was the room and system assembled by Los Angeles retailer Christopher Hansen 2---the latest Evolution 2 version of the mighty Martin-Logan Statement electrostatic speaker system, driven by multiple VTL Wotan two-chassis tube monoblocks. Cabling was Cardas Neutral Reference, and the digital front end was by Wadia---a 270 CD transport and the new 27i digital decoding computer---with some tonal shaping courtesy of a Z-Systems Transparent Tone Control. Component stands were from pARTicular.

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Get Ready for Audio Bits in Space, Part 2

Stereophile Staff Oct 11, 1998 First Published: Oct 11, 1998

The development of digital AM-radio technology moved a step closer last month when the Fraunhofer">http://www.iis.fhg.de/index.html">Fraunhofer Institut Integrierte Schaltungen) (IIS) signed a consortium agreement for the development of digital AM radio with several international radio broadcasters, network operators, and manufacturers.

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Pay the Digital Piper or Die!

Jon Iverson Oct 11, 1998 First Published: Oct 11, 1998

Hilary Rosen, president and CEO of the Recording">http://www.riaa.com">Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), must feel like Sisyphus playing an endless game of "Whack-A-Mole.&quot">http://www.xvt.com/users/kevink/mole/">Whack-A-Mole." Her job recently has been to patrol the digital world for music copyright violators, especially those pesky pirate MP3 websites on the Internet. It seems that each time they find and eradicate a horde of copyright violators, hundreds more pop up faster than you can say "information wants to be free."

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Get Ready for Audio Bits in Space

Stereophile Staff Oct 11, 1998 First Published: Oct 11, 1998

Last week, USA">http://www.usadr.com">USA Digital Radio, a partnership formed in 1991 with CBS">http://www.cbs.com">CBS Corporation and Gannett Co. Inc., announced the filing of a Petition for Rulemaking with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) seeking to permit digital radio broadcasting using In-Band On-Channel (IBOC) technology. The petition begins the process of acceptance of the USA Digital Radio IBOC system as the DAB transmission standard for the United States. According to a statement from Digital Radio, "the IBOC technology being developed by USA Digital Radio offers the most comprehensive digital radio transmission solution in history, and represents the most exciting change in broadcasting since radio's invention over 70 years ago."

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When Smoke Gets In Your Eyes

Stereophile Staff Oct 11, 1998 First Published: Oct 11, 1998

An audio system even Nero could love: Pyrotechnical effects have apparently gotten slightly out of control with Philips Consumer Electronics MX920 speaker systems, 25,500 of which have been recalled due to fire hazards from overheating voice coils. Four such incidents have been reported since the MX920 went on sale in June 1997. No one has been injured, and property damage has been limited to one scorched rug.

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Creditors Left Hanging in Sonic Frontiers Buyout?

Barry Willis Oct 10, 1998 First Published: Oct 10, 1998

If you own a Sonic Frontiers product, rest assured that parts and service will be available for it well into the foreseeable future. Sonic Frontiers International---the front company created by Paradigm after it acquired the apparently struggling maker of high-end amplifiers, CD players, disc transports, and DACs at the end of August---will honor all valid SF warranties, and will support the existing network of dealers and distributors, according to an announcement made two months ago.

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DVD-Audio Promises Unprecedented Realism

Barry Willis Oct 03, 1998 First Published: Oct 03, 1998

On October 1 and 2, engineers, marketing executives, and journalists filled the Hyatt Regency conference center near the San Francisco airport for the DVD-Audio Forum. A long afternoon of technical lectures left us numb. "Therapy for insomniacs" is the only way to describe the seemingly endless Power Point presentations. Microsoft's Power Point seems to be the standard format at all large gatherings, and it's as soporific as hearing a professor read from a textbook.